Short Summary

Fifty-two persons lost their lives at Pat hankot in an explosion which completely wrecked four goods wagons and badly damaged two others.

Description

Fifty-two persons lost their lives at Pat hankot in an explosion which completely wrecked four goods wagons and badly damaged two others. All were loaded with ammunition.

On February 24th the workers were busy unloading the wagons when the explosion took place. It was heard 25 miles away. Not one lived to tell the story. Splinters of steel flew hundreds of yards and injured many people.

Two of the wagons were literally blown to nothing, while of the other two only the wheels remained. The loss is reported to be heavy. Unconfirmed reports put the loss at nearly five million rupees (about GBP400,000) while others put the figures far higher. No one was allowed near the scene because of the danger of further explosions.

The bodies of most of the dead were blown to pieced, only five bodies being in any way intact. Distressed relatives searched for signs of their near ones. One lost his three sons.

The deceased were cremated with full military honours and the area military commanders and civilian authorities brought wreaths in homage.